First Pupils To Complete Reading Initiative

November 25 2024

Huge congratulations to Evie and Maeve, both from Class 8, who have successfully completed the first element of this year’s new Independent Reading initiative!

The Reading Adventurer award asked that pupils read at least six books and engage with them through different activities – and these two intrepid Reading Adventurers have successfully done just that.

Evie described her joy at the diverse range of tasks that the pupils could complete while reading for the award:

I especially enjoyed the artistic ones – I loved designing a new cover for a book that I’d read, and as I did the tasks it gave me a real feeling of achievement.” Maeve’s favourite book was ‘Powerless’ by Lauren Roberts. Maeve asks us to “Imagine the Hunger Games with a kingdom built on a lie, Paedyn meets Kai who is everything she’s been brought up to hate but instead they play a flirting but deadly game in the perilous trials.”

Head of School Nick Brett presented the pupils with their certificates, saying ‘It’s great to see this reading initiative taking off so well. A love of stories and reading is the core of our curriculum, so well done to Evie and Maeve. I’m looking forward to presenting many more certificates to enthusiastic readers as the year progresses.”

Kirsty MacDonald-Russell who spearheaded the scheme this year, said ‘I’m thrilled that ESS has such a committed cohort of young readers. Current research indicates that one of the biggest predictors of success in English, as the pupils progress up the school, is maintaining an independent reading habit, and I’m delighted to see how positively the school as a whole has responded to the scheme! I gather that there are a whole host of pupils following rapidly on the heels of these two early achievers, so I’m excited to see who else completes the first stage of the award before the Christmas holidays.”

Perhaps some titles might feature on festive wish-lists before the next term, and the school library is open:Tuesday Class 4,5 and 6 – 1.15pm – 1.50pm
Wednesdays Classes 7 and 8 – 1.15pm – 1.50pm
Thursdays Classes 1, 2, 3 – 1.15pm – 1.50pm

The children can take out a maximum of three books at a time for 3 weeks.

Happy reading!